Royal Navy ship shoots down Houthi drones in Red Sea attack
The HMS Diamond, working with US warships, repelled the largest attack yet from the Yemeni-based force, the Ministry of Defence said, as Correspondent John Ray reports
The defence secretary signalled that the UK and Western allies could take action against Iranian-backed Houthis if attacks in the Red Sea continue.
It comes after UK and US naval forces - including a Royal Navy air destroyer - destroyed “multiple attack drones” deployed by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, believed to be the largest attack yet from the Yemen-based force.
Grant Shapps warned that further action would be taken if attacks persist, amid growing global concern about the disruption in the key global shipping route.
“Be in no doubt at all Iran is guiding what is happening there in the Red Sea, providing them not just with equipment to carry out those attacks but also often with the eyes and ears to allow those attacks to happen,” Mr Shapps told Sky News.
“We must be clear with the Houthis, that this has to stop and that is my simple message to them today and watch this space.”
The HMS Diamond, working with US warships, repelled what Mr Shapps described as the largest attack yet from the Yemeni-based force on Tuesday, which the Houthis have claimed are a response to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said that missiles and guns were deployed to shoot down the drones heading for the commercial shipping in the area.
“The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences. We will take the action needed to protect innocent lives and the global economy," Mr Shapps added.
He said there were no injuries to the Diamond crew or the boat itself.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters on Wednesday: “I am not going to speculate about how we will or will not respond to continued attacks.”
“We do reserve the right to take further steps to protect commercial shipping and avoid the risk of further destabilising the region. That is something we will keep under review.”
US Central Command said the Houthis had launched a “complex attack” and a total of 18 attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down in the operation which involved Diamond, US warships and F/A-18 fighter jets.
It said the attack was the 26th Houthi attack on the Red Sea shipping lanes since November 19.
The US-led Prosperity Guardian mission seeks to protect shipping using the vital Red Sea lanes which give access to the Suez Canal.
Some major shipping lines and oil giant BP have already diverted vessels around southern Africa, adding time and costs to journeys, rather than risk the Red Sea.
If the crisis continues the increased costs could be passed on to consumers, hampering efforts to curb inflation and reduce interest rates.
As a result several UK-based companies have warned of delays in deliveries due to disruption to the shipping lane.
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s has said the supermarket giant has held “regular calls” with the government over delays of shipments of wine and general merchandise, which includes electricals.
Last week, fashion retailer Next said stock deliveries and sales could be affected if the attacks continue to disrupt the route.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron told MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea which had come in the wake of the Gaza conflict were “unacceptable” in one of the “most important sea lanes”.
He said: “No-one wants to see escalation of conflict in the Middle East, but it is unacceptable to have the freedom of navigation affected in this way.”
He said it was “important” to discuss the various factors behind the escalation in the key shipping route, but said it was “hard to know exactly why”.
“They need to be told … this is not a sort of free option, that consequences follow.”
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